Latest news with #IanPlummer
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- Automotive
- North Wales Chronicle
New car market returns to growth
Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 150,070 new cars were registered last month, up from 147,678 in May 2024. This represented the best May performance since 2021 and was only the second month of 2025 with year-on-year growth. Registrations of pure battery electric new cars rose by 25.8% to take a market share of 21.8%, up from 17.6% a year earlier. The SMMT said this was partly a result of manufacturers offering discounts to boost sales. It noted that under the Government's zero emission vehicle (Zev) mandate, at least 28% of new cars sold by each manufacturer in the UK this year must be zero emission, which generally means pure electric. Across all manufacturers, the year-to-date figure is 20.9%. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: 'A return to growth for new car registrations in May is welcome but manufacturer discounting on new products continues to underpin the market, notably for electric vehicles. 'This cannot be sustained indefinitely as it undermines the ability of companies to invest in new product development – investments which are integral to the decarbonisation of all road transport. 'Next week's spending review is the opportunity for Government to double down on its commitments to net zero by driving demand through fiscal measures that boost the market and shore up our competitiveness.' Ian Plummer, commercial director of online vehicle marketplace Auto Trader, said: 'Despite recent geopolitical volatility, the fundamentals of the car market remain sound, and the sharp rise in electric vehicle sales against last year demonstrates real momentum. 'Electric demand is being driven by new affordable models like the Renault 5 and the Hyundai Inster, along with fast growing Chinese brands like BYD and Omoda-Jaecoo, which will be key to mass market adoption. 'Around one in four of all new cars viewed on our website is electric and we know that when the price is right, drivers are keen to make the switch.' Ben Nelmes, chief executive of green consultancy New AutoMotive, said: 'May's figures are a clear indicator that the UK's journey to electric mobility is not just on track, but accelerating. 'The Zev mandate is clearly working, encouraging manufacturers to bring more electric models to the market and making it easier for drivers to make the switch.'
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Leader Live
New car market returns to growth
Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 150,070 new cars were registered last month, up from 147,678 in May 2024. This represented the best May performance since 2021 and was only the second month of 2025 with year-on-year growth. Registrations of pure battery electric new cars rose by 25.8% to take a market share of 21.8%, up from 17.6% a year earlier. The SMMT said this was partly a result of manufacturers offering discounts to boost sales. It noted that under the Government's zero emission vehicle (Zev) mandate, at least 28% of new cars sold by each manufacturer in the UK this year must be zero emission, which generally means pure electric. Across all manufacturers, the year-to-date figure is 20.9%. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: 'A return to growth for new car registrations in May is welcome but manufacturer discounting on new products continues to underpin the market, notably for electric vehicles. 'This cannot be sustained indefinitely as it undermines the ability of companies to invest in new product development – investments which are integral to the decarbonisation of all road transport. 'Next week's spending review is the opportunity for Government to double down on its commitments to net zero by driving demand through fiscal measures that boost the market and shore up our competitiveness.' Ian Plummer, commercial director of online vehicle marketplace Auto Trader, said: 'Despite recent geopolitical volatility, the fundamentals of the car market remain sound, and the sharp rise in electric vehicle sales against last year demonstrates real momentum. 'Electric demand is being driven by new affordable models like the Renault 5 and the Hyundai Inster, along with fast growing Chinese brands like BYD and Omoda-Jaecoo, which will be key to mass market adoption. 'Around one in four of all new cars viewed on our website is electric and we know that when the price is right, drivers are keen to make the switch.' Ben Nelmes, chief executive of green consultancy New AutoMotive, said: 'May's figures are a clear indicator that the UK's journey to electric mobility is not just on track, but accelerating. 'The Zev mandate is clearly working, encouraging manufacturers to bring more electric models to the market and making it easier for drivers to make the switch.'
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Rhyl Journal
New car market returns to growth
Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 150,070 new cars were registered last month, up from 147,678 in May 2024. This represented the best May performance since 2021 and was only the second month of 2025 with year-on-year growth. Registrations of pure battery electric new cars rose by 25.8% to take a market share of 21.8%, up from 17.6% a year earlier. The SMMT said this was partly a result of manufacturers offering discounts to boost sales. It noted that under the Government's zero emission vehicle (Zev) mandate, at least 28% of new cars sold by each manufacturer in the UK this year must be zero emission, which generally means pure electric. Across all manufacturers, the year-to-date figure is 20.9%. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: 'A return to growth for new car registrations in May is welcome but manufacturer discounting on new products continues to underpin the market, notably for electric vehicles. 'This cannot be sustained indefinitely as it undermines the ability of companies to invest in new product development – investments which are integral to the decarbonisation of all road transport. 'Next week's spending review is the opportunity for Government to double down on its commitments to net zero by driving demand through fiscal measures that boost the market and shore up our competitiveness.' Ian Plummer, commercial director of online vehicle marketplace Auto Trader, said: 'Despite recent geopolitical volatility, the fundamentals of the car market remain sound, and the sharp rise in electric vehicle sales against last year demonstrates real momentum. 'Electric demand is being driven by new affordable models like the Renault 5 and the Hyundai Inster, along with fast growing Chinese brands like BYD and Omoda-Jaecoo, which will be key to mass market adoption. 'Around one in four of all new cars viewed on our website is electric and we know that when the price is right, drivers are keen to make the switch.' Ben Nelmes, chief executive of green consultancy New AutoMotive, said: 'May's figures are a clear indicator that the UK's journey to electric mobility is not just on track, but accelerating. 'The Zev mandate is clearly working, encouraging manufacturers to bring more electric models to the market and making it easier for drivers to make the switch.'
South Wales Guardian
4 days ago
- Automotive
- South Wales Guardian
New car market returns to growth
Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 150,070 new cars were registered last month, up from 147,678 in May 2024. This represented the best May performance since 2021 and was only the second month of 2025 with year-on-year growth. Registrations of pure battery electric new cars rose by 25.8% to take a market share of 21.8%, up from 17.6% a year earlier. The SMMT said this was partly a result of manufacturers offering discounts to boost sales. It noted that under the Government's zero emission vehicle (Zev) mandate, at least 28% of new cars sold by each manufacturer in the UK this year must be zero emission, which generally means pure electric. Across all manufacturers, the year-to-date figure is 20.9%. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: 'A return to growth for new car registrations in May is welcome but manufacturer discounting on new products continues to underpin the market, notably for electric vehicles. 'This cannot be sustained indefinitely as it undermines the ability of companies to invest in new product development – investments which are integral to the decarbonisation of all road transport. 'Next week's spending review is the opportunity for Government to double down on its commitments to net zero by driving demand through fiscal measures that boost the market and shore up our competitiveness.' Ian Plummer, commercial director of online vehicle marketplace Auto Trader, said: 'Despite recent geopolitical volatility, the fundamentals of the car market remain sound, and the sharp rise in electric vehicle sales against last year demonstrates real momentum. 'Electric demand is being driven by new affordable models like the Renault 5 and the Hyundai Inster, along with fast growing Chinese brands like BYD and Omoda-Jaecoo, which will be key to mass market adoption. 'Around one in four of all new cars viewed on our website is electric and we know that when the price is right, drivers are keen to make the switch.' Ben Nelmes, chief executive of green consultancy New AutoMotive, said: 'May's figures are a clear indicator that the UK's journey to electric mobility is not just on track, but accelerating. 'The Zev mandate is clearly working, encouraging manufacturers to bring more electric models to the market and making it easier for drivers to make the switch.'
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Automotive
- South Wales Argus
New car market returns to growth
Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 150,070 new cars were registered last month, up from 147,678 in May 2024. This represented the best May performance since 2021 and was only the second month of 2025 with year-on-year growth. Registrations of pure battery electric new cars rose by 25.8% to take a market share of 21.8%, up from 17.6% a year earlier. The SMMT said this was partly a result of manufacturers offering discounts to boost sales. It noted that under the Government's zero emission vehicle (Zev) mandate, at least 28% of new cars sold by each manufacturer in the UK this year must be zero emission, which generally means pure electric. Across all manufacturers, the year-to-date figure is 20.9%. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: 'A return to growth for new car registrations in May is welcome but manufacturer discounting on new products continues to underpin the market, notably for electric vehicles. 'This cannot be sustained indefinitely as it undermines the ability of companies to invest in new product development – investments which are integral to the decarbonisation of all road transport. 'Next week's spending review is the opportunity for Government to double down on its commitments to net zero by driving demand through fiscal measures that boost the market and shore up our competitiveness.' Ian Plummer, commercial director of online vehicle marketplace Auto Trader, said: 'Despite recent geopolitical volatility, the fundamentals of the car market remain sound, and the sharp rise in electric vehicle sales against last year demonstrates real momentum. 'Electric demand is being driven by new affordable models like the Renault 5 and the Hyundai Inster, along with fast growing Chinese brands like BYD and Omoda-Jaecoo, which will be key to mass market adoption. 'Around one in four of all new cars viewed on our website is electric and we know that when the price is right, drivers are keen to make the switch.' Ben Nelmes, chief executive of green consultancy New AutoMotive, said: 'May's figures are a clear indicator that the UK's journey to electric mobility is not just on track, but accelerating. 'The Zev mandate is clearly working, encouraging manufacturers to bring more electric models to the market and making it easier for drivers to make the switch.'
